This week, join the Colorado Progressive Coalition in a series of actions aimed at Wall Street Banks. Protesters will be engaged in direct action including marches, delegations, and even a flashmob,
specifically targeting Wells Fargo, who holds the largest market share of foreclosures in Colorado. Wells Fargo is also the largest and worst of the subprime predatory mortgage lenders.
Wall Street banks like Wells Fargo have hit people of color especially hard. According to the Denver Fact Sheet on mile-high-showdown.org, “During the housing boom, big banks and their mortgage lending operations were much more likely to put Black and Latino borrowers into higher-cost, subprime loans with a higher risk of default and foreclosure. A recent study finds that the bursting of the housing bubble and the ensuing economic crisis has led to a 66% loss of wealth for Latino households and a 53% loss for Black households, compared to a 16% loss for White households.” Black and Latinos were at least three times more likely than white borrowers to get subprime loans.
Today, protesters kicked off the week of action by visiting the Wells Fargo branch at 17th and Broadway downtown, where they delivered a list of demands. Those demands include asking that Wells Fargo pay its fair share in taxes, the federally mandated 35% tax rate and increase small business loans. Protesters also demand divestment from for-profit prison companies Geo, Inc. and Corrections Corporation of America. Geo is the operator of an immigration detention center in Aurora. Corrections Corporation of America has helped create anti-immigrant legislation in Arizona, according to a 2010 NPR report. You can read more about today’s action and see photos at the Denver Westword Blogs.
Below is a list of this weeks’ actions. You can also sign up at www.mile-high-showdown.org
Monday, Oct. 24th
• Demands Delivery: Come deliver a letter with our demands to a Wells Fargo branch with us and have it faxed to CEO Jeff Stumpf!
When: 11:30 am. Where: Colorado Progressive Coalition, 1029 Santa Fe Drive, Denver
• Outreach: Join our street teams to cover the entire city with our flyers and postcards!
When: 9 am and/or 5 pm Where: Colorado Progressive Coalition, 1029 Santa Fe Drive, Denver
Tuesday, Oct. 25th
• National Divestment Action: Close your account with Wells Fargo or any other big Wall Street bank! Download our divestment letter from www.newbottomline.com and bring it along, demand it be faxed to the CEO.
When: 12pm A big delegation will go close their accounts together. You can also participate individually or in small groups on your own. If you close your account, send a picture or statement to milehighshowdown@gmail.com
Where: Colorado Progressive Coalition, 1029 Santa Fe Drive, Denver. (staging area)
Wednesday, Oct. 26th
• Robin Hood flashmob action to deliver #occupytheboardroom messages to local 1%
When: 10 am
Where: Colorado Progressive Coalition, 1029 Santa Fe Drive, Denver (staging area)
Thursday, Oct. 27th
• Move in Day: Homeowners that Wells Fargo has kicked out of their homes will be moving into a Wells Fargo branch! Come and help us set up a “Fargoville” encampment with tents and furniture! Bring a lamp, a pillow, or other household item to carry with you as we march!
When: 12 pm
Where: Colorado Progressive Coalition, 1029 Santa Fe Drive, Denver (staging area)
Friday, Oct. 28th
• Student Rally and March to Wells Fargo to demand they divest from GEO, the private prison corporation
When: 4 pm
Where: In front of the Tivoli Student Union, Auraria Campus, 900 Auraria Parkway, Denver
Saturday, Oct. 29th
• Mass Mobilization with Occupy Denver
When: 12 pm
Where: Civic Center Park, 100 W 14th Ave Pkwy, Denver
